Culinary Concepts
Somerset Culinary Concepts is a collaboration between Somerset Market Ventures, an affiliate of Somerset Development Company, LLC, whose principals are Nancy Hooff and Jim Campbell, and Ziad Maalouf, an established DC restauranteur.
Ziad’s background includes working with the legendary Jean Louis Palladin at the Watergate Hotel; opening the stunning Lespinasse in the St Regis Hotel; and owning and operating the popular restaurant, Café Olé on Wisconsin Avenue for almost 20 years.
Somerset Development Company, an award-winning development firm, specializes in revitalization of urban communities with a focus on development and preservation of affordable multi-family properties, historic preservation and mixed income residential properties. Somerset has completed multiple projects in Baltimore including Station North Townhomes on North Calvert Street, the historic preservation of The Flats at Professional Arts Building, a major renovation of Linden Park Apartments, and the newly constructed Jordan Apartments on McMechen Street in Bolton Hill. In DC, Somerset has completed nine major developments including Portner Flats, Channel Square and the historic renovation of Hubbard Place.
As part of its community development strategy, Somerset and Ziad have created Somerset Culinary Concepts with two distinctive restaurant concepts: Café Filí and The Tilted Row. Each one focuses on bringing neighbors and neighborhoods together in an effort to strengthen and revitalize a sense of community.
Café Filí, which is located on the ground floor of the Professional Arts Building in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, owned by Somerset Development Company, LLC is an urban casual concept serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The cuisine is focused on the flavors and lifestyle of the Mediterranean in a setting with open ceilings, vibrant colors, and comfortable booths which invite long leisurely lunches. Open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the healthy cuisine has something for everyone. Another Café Filí, at 2nd and G streets in Washington, DC, opened in December of 2019.
The Tilted Row is a warm, inviting restaurant, full of Baltimore spirit. The adventurous menu features seasonal ingredients from local Baltimore purveyors. An elegant environment of woods and soft colors serves as a gathering place for the Bolton Hill, Madison Park and surrounding neighborhoods. A place to meet your neighbors, it serves “elevated pub food”, creative cocktails, and has a collection of over 60 single malts and 60 bourbons. It is open for dinner Monday-Friday and Saturday and Sunday for Brunch. Nightly Blue Plate Specials and Happy Hour Specials offer exceptional value for the neighborhood’s enjoyment. Scotch seminars, wine, dinners, and neighborhood events will take place throughout the year.